Page 58 of Secrets Beneath the Waves
Jamie took a deep sip of coffee and stared at the ceiling, deep in thought.
Alex squeezed her hand. “You carried that burden for so many years. It’s okay to feel relief that she doesn’t have to.”
Jamie nodded, grateful for his understanding. “Still, she’s got her own challenges. And I have no doubt she’ll face them head-on. She’s a fighter.” Jamie smiled, her pride shining through.
Alex chuckled. “You’re the one who taught her how to fight. There’s nobody better in the world to do so.”
“Let’s not forget who taught her how to shoot,” Jamie countered, pointing a finger at him. “Although we both know I’m a better shooter than you are.”
Alex raised his hands in mock surrender. They’d had that running argument about who was the best since they fell in love and started running missions together decades ago. Underlying tension was no longer behind the words like before, and they could laugh about it now.
“Fair enough. But I still don’t understand why you refuse to go on a mission with Ellie,” he said.
Jamie’s smirk faded, replaced by a more contemplative expression. “No. I couldn’t. I love her too much.”
Alex frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’d be a wreck the whole time,” Jamie admitted. “I’d overcompensate, second-guess her decisions, try to protect her when she doesn’t need it. I’d compromise the mission because I wouldn’t be thinking clearly.”
Alex tilted his head, a teasing grin spread across his face. “But you go on missions with me?”
“That’s different. You’re not my child. I didn’t carry you for nine months and give birth to you. Even though you sometimes act like a child, it’s not the same thing.”
Her grin was wide so he’d know she was kidding.
Alex leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “The Bible says we’re one flesh, you know. So, are you saying you love Ellie more than you love me?”
Jamie hesitated, her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. The corner of Alex’s mouth twitched as he watched her struggle. “It’s taking you too long to answer that question.”
“Yes . . . No! I suppose I do. In a way.”
He grimaced.
“That’s not fair,” she finally said, narrowing her eyes at him. “I love you, but it’s different.”
“I see where I rate now.”
“You’ve always known where you rated,” she said. “Somewhere between the dogs and the coffeemaker.”
“When did I move ahead of the coffeemaker?”
“After we got the espresso machine.”
Alex made a motion pretending to stab himself in the heart. Then clutched his chest like he was deeply hurt.
“Alex,” Jamie said, her voice dripping with mock exasperation. “If I didn’t love you, do you think I’d put up with your nonsense all these years?”
She locked her arm in his and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I do love you, Alex. We’ve built a great life together. You won’t see me complaining.”
“I thought Ijustheard you complaining.”
“Seriously, I’m proud of our twins. I have to admit that I’m glad Joshua decided to follow in your footsteps and work with computers at AJAX. One child being shot at is enough.”
“I don’t think Ellie is going to get shot at any time soon. Moles are usually nerdy, geeky guys who wear wrinkled shirts and worn-out ties with jelly stains on them.”
Jamie’s confidence turned to worry faster than a shooting star appeared, then disappeared in the sky at night. “If she’s anything like me, she’ll be shot at soon enough.”
As often happened with them, the conversation had flipped. Alex was making the argument she set out to convey. She now found herself expressing his concerns.
